North Central College will host “Chords for Kids,” the sixth annual free concert for children with autism and their families March 10.

North Central College on March 10 hosts “Chords for Kids,” the sixth annual free concert for children with autism and their families.

The performance begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 10, in the College’s Wentz Concert Hall at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Wheelchair seating is available. Patrons are asked to RSVP before March 9; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

Participants will learn how to run their own businesses as artists Feb. 24-25 during North Central College's Self Employment in the Arts (SEA) Conference.

College and high school students, educators and adults who aspire to be self-employed artists will gain valuable information about running their own businesses as artists Feb. 24-25, 2012 when North Central College hosts the 12th annual Self Employment in the Arts (SEA) Conference.

North Central College invites listeners to hear several of the College’s choral and instrumental ensembles in “Explore the Sound IV: Untraveled Worlds.”

North Central College presents “Explore the Sound IV: Untraveled Worlds” in identical Feb. 22 and 24 concerts that invite listeners to hear several of the College’s choral and instrumental ensembles and discover the stunning acoustics of Wentz Concert Hall.

Performing, touring, conducting, composing. Taylor has done it all at North Central. He sang in two choirs, played bass in jazz ensembles, helped conduct the pit orchestra for a theatrical production and wrote a musical, which was staged as a student production.

“There are so many opportunities at a small school if you go after them,” says Taylor.

A highlight was a choir tour of Italy, during which he served as assistant conductor for performances in Vatican City, Venice, Siena and Florence. “I conducted a piece for the choir in three cathedrals where we performed. Those were very cool moments.”

Taylor also focused on composing, he co-founded a new ensemble that performs original student compositions. “Composing gives you a whole new perspective,” he says.

But he knows in his heart where his career is headed. “I had an epiphany my junior year that I want to pursue choral conducting as a career,” so he’s looking toward graduate school.

Modern music marvel Herbie Hancock transcends music genres and limitations when he performs Oct. 29 at North Central College.

Herbie Hancock, the iconic jazz pianist and multiple Grammy Award-winner, will perform his eclectic take on modern music Oct. 29 in North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall as part of the first solo tour of his legendary career.

Hancock is a powerful influence in acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B music. His career spans five decades, his recordings have earned 12 Grammy Awards and he continues to amaze audiences with his energetic live performances.

Schola Cantorum de Venezuela is one of the most important choral societies to emerge as part of the growing choral movement in Latin America. The choir performs a broad range of works, and its repertoire includes works by Spanish, Italian, French and English Renaissance, contemporary Venezuelan and universal composers.